Electrolytic cell



Jan. 11, 1927.

. 1,613,966 E. SOREN'SEN ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed August 8, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y a i Q $8 N auventoz Jan. 1 1 1927. 1,613,966

E. SORENSEN ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed August 8,

1,613,966 Jan. 11 E. SORENSEN ELEGTROLYTI C CELL Filed August 8, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 11,1927.

UNITED STATES 1,613,966 PATENT, OFFICE.

BIN-AR SOBENSEN, OI BUMFORD,'MAINE, ASSIGNOB TO- OXFORD PAPER COMPANY,

A. CORPORATION.

nnucraonmc cum.

Application filed August 8, 1925. Serial No. 49,008. I

My invention relates particularly to cells used in the production of chlorine and so- .dium hydroxide from brine.

The object of my inventlon is to provide a cell having many advantages over previous in and thus avoid the-use of valves, whileat the'same time bringing about the rapid discharge of the amalgam away from the point of production to the place of purlfication. A further object-is to provide a concrete lining arranged according to said levels and to provide an outside frame of such a shape as to have a concrete lining of uniform" thickness, thus adding strength to the construction and avoiding cracking. Another objectis to secure the concrete lining and the metal shell f the decomposing chamber together by means of bolts which are also connected in the electric circuit so as to decrease the resistance in the "current supplied to the decomposing chamber. Still another object of my invention is .to arrange the oxidizing portion of the cell in such a way that the graphite plates therein are firmly anchored in place. 'Another' object is to 10- cate the driving shaft underneath the cell, insuch a way as to eliminate current leaks to the floor or to other cells. Another object is toprovide' an individual water dipper for each cell so driven as to eliminate a common shaft located'on topof the cells and serving to more completely make every cell a. distinct unit Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description thereof hereinafter. f I While my invention is capable of embodiment in many dilferent forms, for the pur- 45. pose of illustration I have shown only one form of the same in the accompanying drawings,.in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a cell made in accordance with my invention; 59 Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same taken on line 2-2; Figure 3 is a vertical section of the'same taken on line 3-3;

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the same taken on line 4-4=;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a portion of thecasing carrying the pumping units;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the waterbox; and 1 Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on line 7- -7.

In the drawings, I have shown a casing 1 of-cast iron or any other desired kind of metal, havingan inner lining of cement 2. The casing 1 has a transverse partition 3 to divide. the apparatus into a decomposing compartment 4 and an oxidizing'compartment 5. Brine, to be treated in the cell, ei1-. ters the decomposing cell 4 by means of a pipe 6, the floor of which is covered with a slowly moving layer of mercury 7, forming the cathode which connects a bus bar 8. The

connection with the bus bar 8 is arranged by means of a plurality of holes 9 which contain portions of the body of mercury, in the lower portions of which holes there are headed iron bolts 10 connected with said bus bar by ribs 11 cast on the casing 1 and by slotted connecting posts 11. The bolts 10'not only decrease the resistance to the current but prevent the concrete from expanding away from the bottom of the cast iron frame, thus avoiding the cracking of the concrete lining of the cell. It will be seen from Figure 7 that the bus bar 8 is made up of a plurality of strips 12 which connect with the ribs 11. The anode is in the form of a graphite plate 13 which rests upon projections 14 which divide the floor of the decomposing chamber 4 into three channels. The purpose of these rests is to keep the anodes at a constant and proper distance from the mercury cathode. Currentis supplied to the anodes by means of graphite leads 15 bolted to slotted connecting posts 15 secured to 'a' laminated bus bar 16 which supplies a current of 210 volts and 1300 amperes. The leads 15 pass through a removable cement cover 16 having a separate narrow removable strip 16 to permit ready access for cleaning the cell. The brine is fed into the cell through a pi e 17 terminating above an opening 17* in t e cover '16.to permit observation of the flow.

' Thechlorine which is evolved and the weakened brine are carried out by means of an over-flow pipe 19. The mercury which has taken u the sodium from the brine to form an ama gam passes out of the decomposing chamber 4 through a passageway 20, havfl ing therein a cast iron conduit 21, to the oxidizing chamber 5. The rate of flow of the mercury is controlledby the amount in excess of that which is required to properly cover the floor of the decomposing chamber. The entire amount of mercury in the cell may be, for example, 275 pounds. The amalgam is received in the oxidizing chamber 5 upon a plurality of graphite plates 23 having longitudinal notches 24 therein so as to produce an extensive contact with the body of mercury and by the electrolytic action set up between the mercury and the graphite to decompose the amalgam and cause the sodium to unite with the water in the compartment 5 to form sodium hydroxide. The graphite plates 23 are securely held in place by angle irons 25 which are embedded in the cement under the graphite plates and crosswise of same. The graphite plates are bolted to the angle irons by bolts 25*. Owing to the head created by the difference in level between the decomposing chamber and the oxidizing chamber, the mercury gradually flows toward the opposite end 'of the compartment 5 and the sodium having been re moved therefrom, the mercury passes out by a passageway 26 to apump chamber 27 in which there is located a rotary mercury pump 28 having bonnets 29. The rotary pump 28 is driven by a sprocket 30 carrying a chain 31 which supplies power from a sprocket 32 on a shaft 33 driven by any suitable source of power, and which, as shown in the drawings, for convenience, passes under the outer shell 1. The mercury elevated by the pump 28 is discharged into a passageway 34 where it passes under a baffle 35 to remove any floating materials. after which the mercury passes over a dam 36 through a passageway 37 into the decomposing chamber 4. The dam 36 provides a means for holding back water which may be mixed with the mercury and at the same time maintains a head for the flow of the mercury and the continuous circulation of the same in the apparatus. 4

Water for the oxidizing compartment 5 is supplied by means of a water measuring device 38 comprising a bucket or; dipper 39 carried on a pivoted pipe 40which discharges the water through'an axially arranged pipe 41 into a passageway 42 by which the water is conveyed into the compartment 5. The bucket'39 in moved by means of a rocker arm 39, carried on the pipe 41 and arranged to be periodically operated by an angle arm 42" rotating with the sprocket 30 through a pipe 46 to any desired place of storage for use or further treatment, as desired. The water for the bucket'39 passes into the apparatus by means of a water supply pipe 47 connected to a water well 48 ,which is bolted to the side of the outer casing 1 by means of bolts 49 and s provided with a water draw-off 49 Thls well 48 is furthermore, provided with brackets 50 to support the pivoted pipe 41. It will, furthermore, be noted that the side of the casing shell 1 is provided with a brack-. et 51 and bearings 52 to receive a shaft on which the sprocket 30 is carried. It Wlll also be noted that the conformation of the outer shell 1 is such as to produce thedesired'fiow of the mercury in opposite directions in the two compartments 4 and 5 and from the lower end of the compartment 4 to the upper end of the compartment 5. Also, in the outer shell 1 there is provided an inlet opening 54 for the introduction of water to w'ash out the cell.

Furthermore, if desired, the oxidizing compartment may be provided with a removable cover 55 of sheet metal having a handle 56 and provided with an outlet pipe 57 for the hydrogen gas.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same.

I claim:

1. An electrolytic cell having a decompos- 3. An electrolytic cell having a decomposing compartment and oxidizing compartment located at different levels, said compartments being provided with a concrete lining of substantially uniform thickness, so as to provide a flow from one cell to the other.

4..An electrolytic cell having a decomposing compartment and an oxidizing compartment located at different levels, said compartments being provided with a concrete lining of substantially uniform thickness, so as to provide a flow from one cell to the other without the interposition of any controlling valve.

5. An electrolytic cell having a decomposing compartment and an oxidizing compartment located at different levels, said compartments being provided with a concrete lining of substantially uniform thickness 3 and a metal shell conforming to the levels of the compartments, so as to provide a. flow from one cell to the other.

6. An electrolytic cell having a decomposing compartment and an oxidizing compartment located at different levels, said compartments being provided with a concrete lining of substantially uniform thickness and a metal shell conforming to the levels of the compartments, so as to provide a flow from one cell to the other without the interposition of any controlling valve.

7. An electrolytic cell having a driving shaft located at the bottom of the same, an oxidizing compartment, a decomposing compartment, a mercury pump driven by said shaft for lifting mercury from the oxidizing compartment to the decomposing compartment, and a Water feeding device for feeding water to the oxidizing compartment driven by the mercury pump.

8. An electrolytic cell having a. driving shaft located at the bottom of the same and arranged to pass thereunder, an oxidizing compartment, a decomposing compartment, a mercury pump driven by said shaft for lifting mercury from the oxidizing compartment to the decomposing compartment, and a water feeding device for feeding water to the oxidizing compartment driven by the mercury pump.

9. An electrolytic cell having a driving shaft located at the bottom of the-same, arranged to pass thereunder and to be driven independently of other cell shafts, an oxidizing compartment, a decomposing compart ment, a mercury pump driven by said shaft for-lifting mercur from the oxidizing compartment to the ecomposing compartment, and a water feeding device for feeding water to the oxidizing compartment driven by the mercury pump.

10. An electrolytic cell having an oxidizing compartment, a decomposing compartment and a mercury pump having means for driving the same and a device for feeding measured quantities of water to the oxidizing compartment comprising a dip or carried by a rocker arm, said Water feeding device being driven from the mercury pump.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of August, 1925.

EINAR SORENSEN. 

